15 Greatest Episodes Of The Walking Dead

In Better Angels, everything comes to a head after nearly two seasons of build-up. Shane is beyond repair by this point, and the group dynamic has been fractured more than ever by the imprisonment of young gang member Randall (Michael Zegen). And with Dale's (Jeffery DeMunn) death, there is a sombre feeling in the air and a sense that things are only going to get worse.

Which, of course, they do. Shane frees Randall, leads him into the woods, and kills him. Running back to the farm, claiming he was attacked when the boy escaped, Rick, Daryl and Glenn are forced out to look for him.

Rick breaks off with Shane, only to realise that his former best friend aims to lure him away from the others so he can kill him too. This leads to one of the show's most iconic moments, as Shane threatens Rick, insults his father skills and proclaims his love for Lori. Knowing it's too late, Rick kills Shane with a stab to the chest.

Better Angels is a daring and disturbing episode, offering up not only the demise of Shane but the reveal that everyone is infected with the virus when he and Randall renanimate without being bitten. Like Pretty Much Dead Already earlier in the season, this entry is a serious game changer, and ends on a seriously cool (if worrying) cliffhanger.